As Much As 18 Inches Of Rain Has Fallen In Western Cuba

CBS4 News) WESTERN CUBA Tropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm of the 2006 Atlantic Ocean Hurricane Season, continues heading toward Florida after dumping rain over western Cuba.

The weather system forced the evacuation of at least 27,000 people in western Cuba because of the threat of flooding, Cuba's National Information Agency said on its Web site.

Flooding is making it difficult to travel both by car and by foot and even trucks are having a tough time getting around.

Parts of the country received as much as 18 inches of rain in a 24 hour period ending early Sunday, the official Granma newspaper reported on its Web site.